OTTAWA - Ottawa Senators general manager Bryan Murray announced today that the club has signed defenceman Eric Gryba to a two-year entry-level contract. Gryba will conclude this season with the club's American Hockey League affiliate, the Binghamton Senators, on an amateur try-out agreement.

Gryba, who turns 22 on April 4, was the Senators' third-round pick (68th overall) in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. A native of Saskatoon, Gryba wrapped up his four-year college career at Hockey East's Boston University, losing 5-2 to the University of Maine on March 19 in the semi-final. In four seasons, the defenceman collected six goals, 15 assists and 354 penalty minutes over 153 games.

Before attending Boston, Gryba played one season (2005-06) with the United States Hockey League Green Bay Gamblers. He ranked 66th among North American skaters in the NHL's central scouting services, recording a team high among defencemen with 15 points. Gryba was also selected to play in the 2006 USHL all-star game.

In two seasons with the Saskatoon Contacts of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League, the 6-4, 214-pound defenceman won the Canadian Midget National Championship in 2005 and was recognized with national defenceman-of-the-year honours. Gryba has also participated in the Senators summer development camp in each of the last four seasons.